What's the right age for initiating our children?

Q: Would it be possible for you to do a piece on the proper way to bring children of catechetical age into the Church? There seems to be lots of confusion. Maybe some words from the RCIA office would help.

A: What is "catechetical age?" Why are children initiated in different ways at different ages? When we have unbaptized children and baptize, confirm and give children Eucharist all at the same time, won't we lose them from religious education classes?

These are questions many people have. And they are questions a recent RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) gathering, "Engaging in the Conversation: Initiation Issues Regarding Children," attempted to answer.

The questions are not new. From the time the RCIA process was approved for use in the United States, there have been questions regarding how to implement it. Priests, pastoral ministers and DRE's find themselves facing many and varied circumstances by those wanting to embrace the Catholic faith as members of the Catholic Church.

One of the most difficult aspects of the RCIA is initiation of children. For many people involved with the RCIA process, it would make sense to say that if RCIA is for adults, then there must be a rite, an RCIC, for children. While the logic may be reasonable, the conclusion is incorrect.

On March 20, 1990, members of the Administrative Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the joint statement of the NCCB Committees on the Liturgy and on Pastoral Research and Practices and the USCC Committee on Education, entitled "Statement on the Pastoral Challenge of Implementing the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for Children Who Have Reached Catechetical Age." That statement set out to clarify how parishes should go about the process of initiating children into the Church.

The statement acknowledged that, with implementation of the final translation of the RCIA on Sept. 1, 1988, and increased understanding gained about this rite, there has arisen the pastoral challenge of implementing that portion of the RCIA (Part 2, Chap, 1) which applies to children who have reached catechetical age and who have not yet been initiated.

According to the requirements of the RCIA:

-- Unbaptized adults will be enrolled in the catechumenate and ultimately receive all the sacraments of initiation at the same time.

-- Baptized but uncatechized adults will be given necessary formation and, if circumstances warrant, may be enrolled in an adapted form of the catechumenate for the already baptized; at the appropriate time they will receive the eucharist and/or confirmation.

-- Baptized but uncatechized (Catholic) children will receive the necessary catechesis for confirmation and eucharist and receive these sacraments, insofar as possible, at the same time as their classmates.

-- Baptized but uncatechized (non-Catholic) children will be given the necessary formation and, if needed, may be enrolled in an adapted form of the catechumenate for the already baptized; at the appropriate time they will receive Eucharist and confirmation. Confirmation of such children should not be separated from the initiation sacrament of Eucharist to which it is integrally related.

-- Unbaptized children of catechetical age will participate in an adapted form of the catechumenate and, after the necessary formation, receive all three sacraments of initiation at the same time. The confirmation of such children should not be separated from the other sacraments of initiation.

-- Unbaptized infants and small children will be baptized and participate in the usual catechetical and sacramental formation programs for those baptized in infancy.

A common question at this point is, "what is catechetical age, the age of reason, or the age of discretion?"

While there is no church document or law that gives a definitive age for any of these, it is commonly accepted that the age of seven be used. It is also understood, however, that each child develops at his or her own pace. Specifying an age rather than examining a child's emotional, psychological, spiritual and intellectual development does both the child and his/her faith journey a disservice.

Once a child is developmentally ready to enter the RCIA, they enter the Catechumenate for Children, a model of catechesis adapted from the RCIA, and the process of bringing unbaptized children of catechetical age into the Church. After catechisis, when they are deemed ready by their catechists, sponsors and family, they celebrate their initiation with the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist in a single ceremony. This may be either at the Easter Vigil or another appropriate time.

The catechetical process of initiation of children should include the understanding by the child, his/her family, as well as the pastoral staff, that the celebration of the initiation sacraments is but a beginning to their journey of faith, not the end. Ongoing conversion and growth in faith do not end with the celebration of these sacraments.

After their initiation, these children are expected to enroll and participate in the parish's ongoing catechetical process/religious education for their age group. Furthermore, since these children are already confirmed, the decision for them to participate with their peers in the Confirmation preparation program is a pastoral one. In most cases, it can serve as a valuable review and deepen the youth's understanding and appreciation for the initiation they have already experienced. The witness they can give to the rest of their classmates regarding their own process of commitment to their faith can be particularly beneficial. For these youth, a ritual blessing can be bestowed at the actual Confirmation ceremony.

In 1996, the Diocese of Green Bay published a document entitled "A Pastoral Response to Initiation Issues" in which a variety of situations concerning adults and children seeking full initiation into the Church are described, and a pastoral response to each situation is given. This document is available from the pastoral services department of the diocese for $5. For answers to questions or to request a copy of the document just described, please call me toll-free at 1-877-500-3580, ext. 8301, or e-mail me at awillkom@gbdioc.org.

(Willkom is consultant for Christian Initiation for the Diocese of Green Bay.)